Malaysia must capitalize on halal industry prowess, says premier
Malaysia needs to capitalize on its halal industry expertise, which is currently in high demand due to the significant potential it holds, the country’s premier has said.
Malaysia’s prime minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted that several countries are seeking the country’s assistance to establish their own halal industries, as Malaysia already hosts a world-class halal certification body - the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).
This was proved by the interest shared with him by foreign leaders met during official visits.
"We should leverage the strong collaboration between Jakim and the Halal Development Corporation, and align them under the ministry of investment, trade, and industry, thereby generating robust economic growth,” Ibrahim stated.
The Halal Development Corporation Berhad is a federal government agency that spearheads the development of Malaysia’s halal ecosystem and infrastructure.
The corporation is currently assisting companies that have received halal certification from Jakim in promoting their goods to international markets.
The comments came after the launch of the Residensi Wilayah, Residensi Prihatin Madani and Madani Hawkers Centre ground-breaking ceremony at Desa Tasik Sungai Besi on August 17, according to local media reports.
Muslims are a growing consumer force, estimated at more than two billion across the world, and forming just over a quarter of the global population.
In 2020, 63.5% of people based in Malaysia professed to be following the Islamic faith, according to Statista. The Southeast Asian country also dominated the overall Global Islamic Economy Indicator (GIEI) rankings for the 9th consecutive year, revealed in the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2022. GIEI is a weighted index of 81 countries that offers a comprehensive outlook of countries well-positioned to address the global halal economy opportunity. Malaysia also led across the Islamic finance, halal food, travel and media and recreation sectors.
The country has been at the centre of attention for its prowess in the halal industry space, with countries looking to draw on its expertise. Last month, the Philippines president embarked on a three-day visit to Malaysia to identify new cooperation ventures, notably in the halal industry space.
However, the country’s premier also acknowledged challenges that need to be addressed across the halal industry.
"We must ensure the halal status is accurate because we are accountable to Allah SWT, but the approval process must also be swift. We should not use (meticulous) halal certification procedures as an excuse to slow down approvals,” he added.
